Smoke generator for use with water and smoke generant

Abstract

A smoke generator utilizes a boiler chamber within which a mixture of waternd liquid smoke generant are heated above the boiling point of water, thereby producing free steam confined within the chamber. The steam and heated liquid are independently removed from the chamber and recombined at optimum pressure and flow in a special atomizing nozzle to generate a smoke of particulate size under ten microns.

I claim: 
     
       1. An apparatus for generating smoke comprising, in combination: means for heating a quantity of liquid comprising smoke generant liquid and water within a container such that the water held within said container is heated above its boiling point;   means for removing steam under pressure from said container, operably connected thereto;   independent means for removing liquid from said container, operably connected thereto;   means for mixing said steam and said liquid in such a manner as to generate a smoke via an outlet and having inputs from said steam removing means and said liquid removing means; and   means for replenishing said smoke generant liquid and said water, operably connected to said container.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said heating means comprises: a boiler chamber having a plurality of inlet and outlet orifices, and having an upper and lower portion; and   means for heating said smoke generant liquid disposed within said lower portion of said boiler chamber.   
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising: means for controlling the pressure within said chamber, operably connected thereto; and   means for sensing the temperature within said chamber and controlling said heating means in accordance therewith.   
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said steam removing means comprises: a conduit operably connected to receive steam from said container; and   valve means for controlling the rate of flow and pressure of the steam removed via said conduit, operably connected thereto.   
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mixing means is an atomizing nozzle designed to shear said liquid into vapor and mix said vapor with said steam. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid is butylated triphenol phosphate. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid is glycerin. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said liquid is carbowax polyethylene glycol 200 (PEG 200). 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said replenishing means comprises: a make-up fuel pump;   a supply of said liquid;   conduit means connecting said pump and said supply; and   conduit means connecting said pump and said container.   
     
     
       10. An apparatus for generating smoke comprising in combination: a boiler chamber having a plurality of inlet and outlet means;   means for supplying heat to fluids within said chamber disposed within said lower portion of said boiler chamber;   a first conduit operably connected to said chamber for removing gaseous effluents generated within said chamber;   a second conduit operably connected to said chamber for removing non-gaseous fluids therefrom;   an atomizing nozzle operably connected to receive input from said first and second conduits, and having an output; and   means for supplying water and a smoke generant liquid to said chamber.   
     
     
       11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said heat supplying means is an electrical heater coil. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a first regulator for controlling the flow and pressure within said first conduit; and   a second regulator for controlling the flow and pressure within said second conduit.   
     
     
       13. A method of generating smoke comprising the steps of: placing a liquid smoke generant within a container;   placing water within said container with said liquid;   applying heat within said container sufficient to generate steam from said water;   withdrawing controlled quantities of said steam and smoke generant by independent means;   mixing said steam and smoke generant such that a smoke is formed having the majority of its particles of a size less than ten microns in diameter.   
     
     
       14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of regulating the temperature and pressure within said container. 
     
     
       15. The method of claim 13, wherein said withdrawing step further comprises the steps of: regulating the flow and pressure of said steam withdrawn from said container to achieve an optimum mix with said smoke generant;   regulating the flow and pressure of said smoke generant withdrawn from said container to achieve an optimum mix with said steam.   
     
     
       16. The method of claim 13 wherein said liquid placing step includes the steps of: sensing the amount of liquid smoke generant within said chamber relative to a predetermined volume; and   maintaining a flow of said liquid smoke agent into said container sufficient to maintain said volume.